The Young Fishers

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Most summers McTaggart would revisit his native Kintyre. Herring fishing was the mainstay of the local economy, but here McTaggart shows some children enjoying fishing as a leisure activity. He became famous for his seascapes and his images of children. The setting for this is off the shore at Kilkerran, which is part of Campbeltown. Stylistically this painting shows a transition between the detailed Pre-Raphaelite handling of the McTaggart’s earlier work and the free expressive brushwork of his later pictures.

Details

Acc. No.NG 1482

MediumOil on canvas

Size72.40 x 108.00 cm (framed: 147.32 x 110.49 x 15.24 cm)

CreditBequest of Dr John Kirkhope 1920

William McTaggart (Scottish, 1835 - 1910)

McTaggart's land and seascapes reflect his fascination with nature and man's relationship with it. His bold colours and vigorous brushwork find parallels in Impressionist painting, although essentially form part of a distinct Scottish tradition. They also echo qualities in paintings by Constable and Turner, whom he admired. McTaggart was born on the Mull of Kintyre and returned there frequently from his studio in Glasgow and later from his home in Broomieknow, just outside Edinburgh. He trained in Edinburgh at the Trustees' Academy and enjoyed early success when elected as an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy aged twenty-four.